Irritable Male Syndrome: More Than A Mid Life Crisis For Men

Guess what? Women apparently aren’t the only ones going through menopause. Our guest on this week’s HealthyPlace Mental Health TV Show, psychologist and author, Dr. Jed Diamond says “male menopause” is something every middle-aged man goes through, it’s just a matter of degree. For the men who have a rough time of it, Dr. Diamond has coined the term “Irritable Male Syndrome” to describe a set of difficult-to-deal-with symptoms associated with male menopause.

What Is Menopause?

If you’re a middle-aged woman or in a relationship with one, I’m sure you’ve heard the term menopause. Menopause is the transition period in a woman’s life when her ovaries stop producing eggs, her body produces less estrogen and progesterone, and menstruation becomes less frequent, eventually stopping altogether.

Menopause symptoms include:

Heart pounding or racing

Hot flashes

Night sweats

Skin flushing

Sleeping problems (insomnia)

Forgetfulness (in some women)

Mood swings including irritability, depression, and anxiety

As you might imagine, going through menopause is no picnic for many women.

Symptoms of Irritable Male Syndrome

Dr. Diamond says middle-aged men go through a similar thing. His definition of the Irritable Male Syndrome (IMS): A state of hypersensitivity, anxiety, frustration, and anger that occurs in males and is associated with biochemical changes, hormonal fluctuations, stress, and loss of male identity. He says, for men, these Irritable Male Sydrome symptoms result in physical, psychological, emotional, interpersonal, economic, social, sexual, and spiritual changes. (If you’re wondering whether you or a loved one might have IMS, here’s Dr. Diamond’s Irritable Male Syndrome Questionnaire)

IMS, maintains Dr. Diamond, also accounts for why some of these middle-aged men suddenly turn mean; leaving their wives and significant others wondering what the heck is going on. To get a further explanation, you’ll have to watch this week’s show.

Have you experienced Irritable Male Syndrome or Male Menopause? Maybe your husband or significant other has developed male menopause symptoms? We invite you to call us at 1-888-883-8045 and share your experiences and insights on the issue. (Info on Sharing Your Mental Health Experiences here.) You can also leave comments below.